Chapter 6
Elowen's POV
I stayed pressed against the tiled wall of Casper's bathroom, heart pounding so hard I thought it'd crack my ribs. Casper's and Cindy's voices drifted in from beyond the door—Casper saying he hadn't seen me, that I might be in my room already. Then Cindy left, calling back with a laugh to dress sharp today. Casper's confident voice followed, "Sure thing, sis—I'm afraid I'll steal the groom's spotlight."
The door clicked shut. Footsteps approached. Casper stepped back into the bathroom, unwrapping the towel from his waist in one smooth motion. He used it to gently dry my body, the terry cloth gliding over my breasts, stomach, thighs. His palm settled on my head, fingers threading through damp hair. "Cutie, it's okay now. Head back first—I'll find you tonight to continue."
He leaned in, lips brushing my cheek in a soft kiss, then murmured against my skin, "Don't forget what just happened. Later I want to taste that little pussy of yours."
His words slid over me like warm oil, filthy and sweet at once. My thighs clenched involuntarily, a fresh pulse of heat blooming between them. I swallowed hard, cheeks burning, unable to meet his eyes.
Casper just smiled, slow and knowing, and reached past me to the marble shelf. He lifted a small crystal bottle I hadn't noticed before—delicate, rose-gold cap, the label handwritten in his own sharp script: For my cutie. "Picked this up yesterday," he murmured, thumb brushing the glass. "Light fig and vanilla. Won't clash with me, but it'll mask everything else."
He uncapped it, the scent curling soft and creamy into the steam. One spritz at my throat, another at each wrist, then—gentle, deliberate—behind my knees. His fingers lingered, tracing the hollows like he was signing his name. "There. Now you smell like dessert only I get to eat."
I exhaled shakily, the fragrance wrapping around the raw ache inside me. He pressed the bottle into my palm. "Keep it. Go to Cindy's room. I'll come find you tonight."
I clutched the cool glass, its weight a strange, heavy promise.
"Thank you," I said softly.
I wrapped a fresh towel tight around my chest and slipped out.
Inside my head, Juno's voice purred, low and teasing. "You can't hide it, El. I felt how wet you were for him. Your body's screaming for more." Her words hit like a punch, and my cheeks burned hot. I could still feel the ghost of Casper's fingers between my legs, the way he'd pressed against me. A tremor ran through my legs as desire and shame battled inside me.
"Shut up, Juno!" I snapped under my breath, shoving her voice down. But she was right, and I hated it. My skin prickled as I hurried down the hall, the towel slipping slightly, cold air hitting my damp shoulders. I reached Cindy's room, slipped inside, and shut the door hard. My breaths came in short gasps. Safe. For now.
I dropped the towel and yanked on some clothes—a plain shirt and jeans, nothing flashy. My hands fumbled with the buttons, still shaky. The mirror showed my flushed face, amber eyes too bright, freckles standing out like I'd been slapped. I looked like a wreck. I felt like one.
The door swung open, and Cindy breezed in, her black hair bouncing, blue eyes sharp with worry. "Elowen! Where the hell have you been? I've been looking everywhere!" She stopped, her gaze narrowing as she studied me. Her perfect brows furrowed. "You okay? You look like shit."
I forced a laugh, but it came out weak. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... got caught up thinking about Drake. Stupid stuff." My voice cracked on his name, and I hated how real the lie sounded. I couldn't tell her about Casper. Not now. Not ever.
Cindy stepped closer, her hand resting on my arm, warm and steady. "That asshole doesn't deserve a second of your headspace. You're done with him, El. Done." She squeezed gently, her face softening. "Hey, if you want, I can get Dad to handle him. Make sure he stays away for good."
"No!" I blurted, louder than I meant. My heart raced at the thought of the pack getting involved. I'd be the pathetic girl who couldn't handle her own mess. "I mean, no, it's fine. I don't want to make it a big deal. I just wanna forget it."
She sighed, nodding slowly, but her eyes didn't leave mine. "Okay. But I'm here, alright? Always." Then her face lit up, switching gears. "Speaking of distractions, wedding prep is driving me nuts. Starfall Pack's people are showing up early. Can you believe that? I need help with the garden setup later. You in?"
"Yeah, of course," I said, grateful for something to focus on. My stomach twisted, though. More people meant more eyes on me, more chances to slip up. I rubbed my wrists, the cologne still sharp in my nose, hoping it'd hold.
Hours later, I was in the ceremony garden near the old church, hauling boxes of decorations. The air was thick with the scent of fresh grass and pine, the sun warm on my back. My arms ached, but the work kept my mind off Casper. Mostly. I set a box down by the church steps, wiping sweat from my brow, when a shadow fell over me. My gut dropped before I even looked up.
Drake. Standing there in a crisp shirt and tailored pants, sand-gold hair perfect, green eyes glinting with that fake charm. He smiled, but it didn't reach those cold depths. "Hey, El. Fancy seeing you here. Helping out like a good little bitch, huh?"
My blood turned to ice. I straightened, stepping back, my hands curling into fists. "What the fuck are you doing here, Drake? You weren't invited."
He chuckled, low and mean, taking a step closer. The smell of sulfur and grease hit me, turning my stomach. "Oh, come on. I've got friends in high places. Thought I'd drop by, see how my ex is holding up." His gaze raked over me, lingering too long. "Looking cheap as ever, trying to snag an Alpha brother. Pathetic."
"Fuck off," I spat, my voice shaking. I turned to leave, but his hand shot out, grabbing my arm hard. Pain shot through me as he yanked me toward a hidden corner of the garden, away from prying eyes. My heart slammed against my chest, fear spiking.
"Don't walk away from me," he hissed, his grip tightening. His face was too close, breath hot on my cheek. "I've got plenty of dirt on you, El. You remember those videos, right? You on your knees, sucking me off. Licking my balls like a fucking pro. One click, and everyone sees what a slut you are."
My stomach churned, bile rising. Fear and rage warred inside me. Juno growled in my head, loud and feral. "Rip his throat out, El! Don't let this fucker touch you!" I wanted to. God, I wanted to. But my body froze, memories of his control flooding back. My wrist throbbed under his hold.
"Get your damn hands off me, Drake," I snarled, finding my voice. I jerked against him, but he didn't budge. "You're nothing. A cheating piece of shit who can't even keep it up half the time. I'm done with you."
His smirk faltered, eyes flashing with anger. "You think you can talk to me like that? You're nothing without me." He leaned in, his other hand grabbing my jaw, forcing me to look at him. "I've got plans for you, sweetheart. You guess what I'm gonna do next."
My pulse roared in my ears. I shoved at his chest, nails digging in. He stumbled but held my wrist tight. Panic clawed at me—I couldn't break free.
Then he leaned closer, his nose twitching as he inhaled. His expression changed as he caught the unfamiliar scent of fig and vanilla. His face contorted with suspicion. "What's this fancy perfume?" he snarled, eyes narrowing. "Since when do you wear expensive shit like this? Who bought it for you?"